Ah, December! Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, sleigh bells gently tinkling in shopping centres across the country (I know, you thought it was tinnitus), and the counting off of shopping days. It's quite remarkable what a calming effect a bit of glittery wrapping paper and a sprig of tinsel can have on your spirits.

No matter how much you hate your job or believe it may be time to "reposition yourself in the market", somehow the warm glow of long Christmas lunches always seems to mellow the year's accumulated frustrations.

Rather than looking for a new job, most of us settle in for a whirl of parties, because at this time of year, who wants to make big life decisions? We're too busy fighting over the Christmas dinner seating plan.

However, waiting until dark and depressing January, when everyone switches to fighting over scarce appointments at the recruiters, is a mistake. Christmas is one of the best times for finding a new job - and has the added bonus of ensuring you start the new year with your feet under a brand new desk.

Chris Coles, managing director of Finance Professionals, has been in recruitment for over 10 years and says we have got it all wrong: instead of quaffing the boss's claret as Christmas approaches, we ought to be dusting down our CVs.

"People think 'new year, new start', but statistically the job flow doesn't slow down before Christmas - if anything, it picks up," he says. "Companies pin down their budgets, identify staffing gaps, or have to use up hiring budgets before the end of the year, and they want to get it sorted before they go on holiday."

If you apply for a job advertised in December, you may well find there are fewer candidates - putting you in a strong position to negotiate salary and terms. "If you apply in December, you're going to benefit from scarcity," Coles says. "Wait until January 5 and your chance of standing out as an individual is reduced."

Shannon de Laat, who starts her job at Bombay Sapphire in January, agrees. "I was thinking of leaving anyway, and I wanted to make the most of the Christmas holidays, so getting it all sorted out now seemed like the best thing to do," she says. "My recruiter had quite a few opportunities, so I was able to weed out the ones I didn't want to apply for, and she was very attentive, maybe because there were fewer applicants."

In fact, de Laat found her new job twice: once through her recruiter, and once through making a contact at a party. Coles is not surprised: he estimates that 40% of jobs are filled without recruiters or adverts, and the festive season provides plenty of opportunities for shameless networking. For while the number of jobs advertised does go down at this time of year, that does not mean there are fewer opportunities or that jobseekers have less choice.

"People are more willing to talk at this time of year," says Coles, "so it's a great time to contact former colleagues, clients and agencies to meet up for a pre-Christmas drink."

For some of us, however, even the idea of attending a client's Christmas party can be intimidating. Coles's advice is to avoid the hard sell, get chatting and stop being so British about the whole thing. It's a tactic that Nicola Hall, PA and marketing coordinator at the Pleasure Island theme park in Cleethorpes, has found highly effective.

Hall had been in her old job for eight years, but got noticed at a Christmas party. "I had been looking to move for a while," she explains, "and then at our Christmas do last year, I got chatting to my current boss, Neil, who didn't have a job for me at the time, but he took my number."

Six months later, Hall got the call and was offered the job on the spot. Her advice is to remember in this situation is that the worst anyone can do is say "no". "I hadn't gone out planning to network, but if an opportunity comes your way, you have to make the most of it. And having a few drinks inside helps, too!" she says.

De Laat agrees. "There might be fewer jobs advertised, but around this time you're constantly out at parties or meeting people for drinks, so there are plenty of opportunities for networking."

If chatting up potential new employers under the mistletoe seems too much like being forced to join an office sing-along to Cliff Richard's Greatest Christmas Hits, there are still plenty of other festive job opportunities that do not involve dressing up as Santa Claus.

For a start, never underestimate the power of the humble Christmas card. Yes, you may receive hundreds of unsigned, logo-ed cards, but we all remember the cards that actually contain genuine personalised greetings. Choosing the right individual, and the right message, can make all the difference, according to Coles.

"Think about industry-smart presents and cards to draw attention to yourself," he advises. "You want to show your personality, but make sure it's relevant to your market. Anything too cheesy or wacky and you'll definitely stand out, but for all the wrong reasons."

Still not convinced? Forget lame excuses about why it's a good idea to wait until January ("I'll be refreshed after spending two weeks away from the office boozing and partying" is my favourite). Are you struggling under numerous deadlines, fighting on all fronts and about to attend a major meeting on December 23?

Thought not. December is traditionally the quietest time of the year in the office, so at the very least, you can use the downtime to do some career assessment. "Christmas drinks are a great opportunity to meet up with a mentor," Coles says, "which is essential when thinking about whether you can achieve your goals internally or whether you need to move on."

Nonetheless, job hunting at this time of year is not to be recommended for the "bah-humbugging" Scrooges among you. Much better to settle in for some proper complaining about how you dislike everyone and everything. Then, come January, when it's cold, miserable and competition is fierce, you can start your job hunt. Just don't think you'll have escaped the seasonal good cheer: by then, Father Christmas will be looking for a job too.